Walls: The signs of spring are showing up

The signs of spring are increasingly showing themselves. It is the season of rebirth!

Since we finally received some rain and the weather is warming, it is great to once again see the signs of a new spring season.

For those of you with bluebird boxes, hopefully, you have seen the courtship patterns of the bluebirds. Nest building is in full swing. Soon the boxes will house their beautiful blue eggs and then the babies. It is always a treat to watch bluebirds this time of year.

Red-shouldered hawks are flying overhead and piercing the air with their high-pitched calls. This is always a tell-tale sign that spring has arrived. True to their name adults do have reddish-orange feathers on their wing ‘shoulders.’

Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice are singing and calling constantly. Like the bluebirds, they too have begun nest building.

Not to be outdone, northern cardinals are rewarding us with their beautiful songs. Even the females sing just as beautifully as the brilliantly colored males. We often take cardinals for granted. Take the time to enjoy the beauty of these brilliantly colored birds.

I saw my first swallowtail butterflies flitting about a week or so ago. They are joined by the ever present sulphurs. It is the start of butterfly season as well.

On warmer nights, toads and frogs are starting to show up hopping across the yard. It won’t be long before the tree frogs are at lit up windows at night foraging on moths that are attracted by the light. This is another sure sign that spring is here.

I saw a couple of bats darting about near a security light last week. They were gleaning insects that were gathered around the light. These nocturnal flying mammals are now awake from their dormancy during the cooler months.

Anole lizards, many call them chameleons, are out sunning on rocks and porches. With the increased insect activity, these little iguanas are also ready for warmer weather.

Then there are the deciduous trees that are budding out with new life. Redbuds, sweetgums, oaks, dogwoods and several others. The azaleas are in bloom and other flowers are following suit.

Then there is that all-telling sign of spring. Yellow pine pollen covering your vehicle’s windows. When all else fails, this is a sure sign that the season of rebirth has arrived.

So get outside and enjoy the season. Visit a nearby park, Mercer Arboretum, Jesse Jones Park, Lake Houston Wilderness Park. Go on a Houston Audubon bird walk. You will be reinvigorated by the experience. You too will experience a whole new season of rebirth.